Page 96 – NYFA

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Documentary Filmmaking Department Works With Ben’s Lighthouse

Last Spring, New York Film Academy (NYFA) Chair of Documentary Filmmaking Andrea Swift and NYFA Docs alum Braulio Jatar taught a micro-docs workshop to Newtown teenagers at Ben’s Lighthouse, a grassroots organization founded after the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Ben’s Lighthouse was founded to honor 6-year-old Benjamin Wheeler, one of the victims of the 2012 massacre. The organization is based in Newtown, Connecticut. Their motto—and mission—is “helping is healing,” and the organization uses local mentoring programs and national outreach service trips as part of their cause.

Members of Ben’s Lighthouse were headed for a service trip to Louisiana. Andrea Swift, NYFA Documentary Filmmaking Chair, helped prepare them by teaching a workshop in micro-docs, which are typically very short, effective documentaries. Swift focused on story development, which is especially important in documentaries that have a very short window to captivate and engage an audience.

Once they returned from the trip, the members—led by group leader Sue Vogelman—came back to NYFA to edit their footage. NYFA Documentary Filmmaking alum Braulio Jatar worked with Swift and taught the members how to edit on digital software Adobe Premiere, as well as supervising their edit.

Micro Doc: Newtown Workshop from New York Film Academy on Vimeo.

Jatar graduated from both the Documentary Filmmaking 6-Week Workshop and 1-Year Conservatory at NYFA’s New York campus. Since graduating, Jatar has found success with his film, Where Chaos Reigns, co-directed with NYFA Docs alum Anaïs Michel. The film recently won the Golden Gate Award for Best Short Documentary at the San Francisco International Film Festival, qualifying Jatar for an Academy Award next year.

The micro-doc was directed by Gigi Marino and Sam Henriques and is available on Vimeo.

New York FIlm Academy (NYFA) Filmmaking Alum Swati Chugh Finds Success With ‘New Heaven’

New Heaven, the final film project of New York Film Academy (NYFA) 4-Week Filmmaking Workshop alum Swati Chugh, has been steadily amassing awards since recently entering the international festival circuit.

Chugh is originally from India and made the film in April 2019 as part of graduating the 4-week Filmmaking Workshop at NYFA’s Burbank-based campus. New Heaven is about a middle-aged woman who is struggling to come to terms with aging and mortality. The film explores how she finds fulfillment while dealing with the memories of her younger days.

“As a filmmaker,” Chugh tells NYFA, “I want to tell stories that bring hope and inspiration to the audience. If I manage to touch hearts and inspire people to view things differently, I believe my purpose is met. New Heaven is one such story … Age is a factor that affects us all and many times we tend to get stuck in the past on how we used to look earlier versus how we look like now … The story shows [the protagonist’s] struggles, conflict, and journey towards getting her self-worth back.”

Since entering the festival circuit, New Heaven has won:

Best Silent Film – Crownwood International Film Festival, India
Best Silent Film – Druk International Film Festival, Bhutan
Best Super Short Film – Five Continents Film Festival, Venezuela
Special Mention Editing Short Film – Five Continents Film Festival, Venezuela
Semifinalist for Best Writer – AltFF Alternative Film Festival, Canada
Semifinalist for Best Actress – AltFF Alternative Film Festival Canada
Official Selection – Florence Film Awards, Italy
Official Selection – CKF International Film Festival, UK
Official Selection – Berlin Flash Film Festival, Germany

The film was a collaboration between multiple New York Film Academy alumni, including co-star Omega Melhem (8-Week Acting for Film), actor and director of photography Jialu Liu, (4-Week Filmmaking), and assistant camera Matias Alvarado (4-Week Filmmaking). Chugh praised both her cast and crew as well as the NYFA faculty who helped teach her the filmmaking craft.

“The filmmaking course at NYFA was beyond what I had expected,” adds Chugh. “It was a fast-paced course, but that is what made it so exciting.”

New York Film Academy congratulates NYFA Filmmaking alum Swati Chugh on the growing list of accolades for New Heaven and wishes her ongoing success as she continues her filmmaking endeavors.

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ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES (AMPAS) INVITES NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY (NYFA) FILMMAKING & CINEMATOGRAPHY ALUM JEAN DE MEURON

Earlier this month the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) invited 842 new members to join its rankings, including Oscar-nominated New York Film Academy (NYFA) Filmmaking & Cinematography alum Jean de Meuron.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the body of directors, actors, producers, screenwriters, and other filmmaking industry leaders. Every year, AMPAS members vote on the Academy Awards embodied by the iconic golden statuette, Oscar.

Over the past few years, due to a demand from the public to catch up to the current cultural landscape, AMPAS has been inviting more women and people of color to diversify its body, which has been historically dominated by white men. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this year’s 842 invitees include members from 59 countries, half of whom are female and 29 percent of whom are people of color.

Invitees often include previous Oscar winners and nominees, as well as up-and-coming Hollywood stars. The 2019 list of invitees includes directors Jonathan M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), and actors Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Letitia Wright, Claire Foy, Sterling K. Brown, Tom Holland, Gemma Chan, Will Poulter, Lady Gaga, and Adele.

NYFA alum Jean de Meuron, who was also invited this year, was previously nominated in 2017 for an Academy Award for the short film he executive-produced, La femme et le TGV. de Meuron hails from Switzerland and first enrolled at New York Film Academy in 2009, taking several workshops, including Filmmaking. He followed his short-term studies with NYFA’s 1-Year Conservatory in Cinematography. His latest project, sci-fi epic Megan (co-produced with Giuseppe Mercadante and Olcun Tan and directed by Greg Strasz), recently won a Telly Award for its proof-of-concept short.

“I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have been invited to join the Academy as a member of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch,” de Meuron tells NYFA. “It is such an honor and privilege to be a part of this organization of which many filmmakers, creatives, and executives belong to that have influenced as well as inspired me—and continue to do so.”

New York Film Academy is incredibly excited for Filmmaking & Cinematography alum Jean de Meuron and congratulates him on his invitation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Community Earns Several Emmy Award Nominations

New York Film Academy (NYFA) was excited once again to see the NYFA Community represented in this year’s nominations for the 71st Emmy Awards. The awards ceremony will be aired live on Sunday, September 22.

HBO leads the nominations with a jaw-dropping 137 nods, while Netflix follows not far behind with an impressive 117 total nominations.

Zeitgeist television epic Game of Thrones helped HBO with many of those nominations, receiving a total of 32 altogether. One of those nominations includes for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for the penultimate episode, “The Bells.” Alexandra LoRusso, an alum of NYFA’s 1-year 3D Animation & Visual Effects conservatory, worked on the visual effects for that episode and the Game of Thrones finale, “The Iron Throne.”

Dark comedy Barry was another HBO show that made an impressive showing, with a total of 17 nominations. The series was co-created by and stars New York Film Academy alum Bill Hader, who spoke with students earlier this year. Hader was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which he won the Emmy for last year. He also received nominations this year for
both Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

Competing in the same category with Barry for Outstanding Comedy Series is Netflix breakout hit Russian Doll, starring Natasha Lyonne. The show also picked up a nod for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour). NYFA Cinematography alum Rebecca Rajadnya served as first assistant camera on the cinematography team for Russian Doll.

Also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) was HBO comedy Insecure, starring and created by NYFA Filmmaking alum Issa Rae.

The Documentary categories also had nods for the NYFA community. Both Free Solo and RBG were nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. RBG was shot by NYFA Documentary Department cinematography instructor Claudia Raschke. Free Solo was edited by NYFA editing instructor Bob Eisenhardt, ACE. Eisenhardt, who won an Eddie Award for his work on the film, is also nominated for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program.

Additionally, the Netflix documentaries Fyre and Our Planet were nominated in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series category; NYFA 1-year Documentary alum Pedro Alvarez Gales was the assistant editor on Fyre, which was nominated in three other categories as well, while NYFA Acting for Film alum Lana Condor moderated a preview panel for Our Planet.

Two previous NYFA guest speakers were also nominated for Emmy Awards this year, both in the same category—Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Henry Winkler was nominated for his work in Barry, while recent guest speaker Tony Hale was nominated for Veep; this is his sixth nomination for the role, and he’s won twice. The show is also nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Better Call Saul was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series; previous NYFA guest speaker Gordon Smith has written for the series. Groundbreaking animated program The Simpsons, now in its 30th season and no stranger to Emmy Awards and nominations, was unsurprisingly nominated again this year for Outstanding Animated Program. Mike Polcino, who has directed for the show, spoke with NYFA students last year.

New York Film Academy congratulates this year’s Emmy Award nominees and looks forward to seeing who goes home with a golden statuette on September 22!

Here is a full list of this year’s Emmy Award nominees:

Outstanding Comedy Series
Barry
Fleabag – WINNER
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep

Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul
Bodyguard
Game of Thrones – WINNER
Killing Eve
Ozark
Pose
Succession
This Is Us

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Mahershala Ali, True Detective
Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us – WINNER
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us
Joey King, The Act
Niecy Nash, When They See Us
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon – WINNER

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal – WINNER
Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl
Paul Dano, Escape at Dannemora
John Leguizamo, When They See Us
Michael K. Williams, When They See Us
Asante Blackk, When They See Us

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Emily Watson, Chernobyl
Margaret Qualley, Fosse/Verdon
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
Patricia Arquette, The Act – WINNER
Marsha Stephanie Blake, When They See Us
Vera Farmiga, When They See Us

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Bill Hader, Barry – WINNER
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead To Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag – WINNER

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Stephen Root, Barry
Henry Winkler, Barry
Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – WINNER
Tony Hale, Veep

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Sarah Goldberg, Barry
Sian Clifford, Fleabag
Olivia Colman, Fleabag
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – WINNER
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Billy Porter, Pose – WINNER
Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve – WINNER
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Laura Linney, Ozark
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones – WINNER
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Chris Sullivan, This Is Us

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
Julia Garner, Ozark – WINNER

Outstanding Reality Competition Series
Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Nailed It
RuPaul’s Drag Race – WINNER
Top Chef
The Voice

Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show
Full Frontal
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver – WINNER
The Late Late Show With James Corden
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
At Home With Amy Sedaris
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman
Saturday Night Live – WINNER
Who Is America?

Outstanding Television Movie
Bandersnatch – WINNER
Brexit
Deadwood
King Lear
My Dinner with Hervé

Outstanding Limited Series
Chernobyl – WINNER
Escape at Dannemora
Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Objects
When They See Us

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Barry, “ronny/lily,” Alec Berg and Bill Hader
The Good Place, “Janet(s),” Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan
PEN15, “Anna Ishii-Peters,” Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle
Russian Doll, “Nothing In This World Is Easy,” Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler
Russian Doll, “A Warm Body,” Allison Silverman
Veep, “Veep,” David Mandel
Fleabag, “Episode 1,” Phoebe Waller-Bridge – WINNER

Directing For A Comedy Series
Barry, “The Audition,” Alec Berg
Barry, “ronny/lily,” Bill Hader
The Big Bang Theory, “The Stockholm Syndrome,” Mark Cendrowski
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “All Alone,” Amy Sherman-Palladino
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “We’re Going To The Catskills!” Daniel Palladino
Fleabag, “Episode 1,” Harry Bradbeer – WINNER

Directing for a Limited Series or TV Movie
A Very English Scandal, Stephen Frears
Chernobyl, Johan Renck – WINNER
Escape at Dannemora, Ben Stiller
Fosse/Verdon, Jessica Yu
Fosse/Version, Thomas Kail
When They See Us, Ava DuVernay

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Students & Alumni Screen at 2019 Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival

This spring, four New York Film Academy (NYFA) students and alumni had the opportunity to collaborate on their films with professional composers through a partnership with the Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival. After being selected through a rigorous school competition, students Ion Legarda, Aliza Jaffri, and Jonathan Samukange, and alum Savannah Sivert were matched with professional composers who then wrote scores for their films.

Since the dawn of the silent film era, music has played a critical role in cinematic storytelling. It accentuates emotion, sets a tone, and underscores conflict. Filmmakers work closely with their composers to create the right sound for their films. For these filmmakers just beginning their careers, the chance to have professionals score their films is a fantastic opportunity.

On Saturday, July 20, they will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching their films on the big screen at the Barnsdall Art Gallery Theater while the orchestra Helix Collective plays the new composed score live.

NYFA caught up with the filmmakers ahead of the Live Score Film Festival and asked them about their experiences working with their composers.

Ion Legarda (Spring 2019 1-Year Producing) & Aliza Jafri (Spring 2019 MFA Producing)

Title of Film: A Deep Breath
Composer: Cali Wang
Genre: Documentary
Logline: After relocating to the United States, Ion Legarda uses his passion for free diving to cope with the stresses of starting a new life, taking us with him on an exploration of the magnificent world that exists underwater.

New York Film Academy (NYFA): Tell us about your film.

Ion Legarda & Aliza Jafri (IL/AJ): We were building this movie around having beautiful cinematic underwater shots to take the crowd with the free diver to show the peaceful magnificent world under the surface. We had only one day on a boat with the underwater camera operator, the crew, and equipment. We prepared everything, even went to sleep on the boat.

When the day came, Aliza, the director, together with the two co-producers and the person who was supposed to be our underwater camera operator got SEASICK. So, Isaac and Ion, the free divers, had to learn how to operate the underwater camera, and shoot all the footage by themselves. Because they weren’t exactly experienced, we had to find diving archival footage from Ion’s past. Most of the underwater footage in the movie was not shot intentionally for this film.

NYFA: What has it been like to work with your composer?

(IL/AJ): It was our first time. Cali is a very talented composer and made it really easy on us. After sending her a few examples and references, she knew exactly what we were looking for, and sent us revisions every week or two for us to give her corrections. Everything worked easily and smoothly.

NYFA: What have you learned in this process?

(IL/AJ): That communication and setting expectations in the beginning is the key to good work with a composer.

NYFA: What are you looking forward to in the live screening?

(IL/AJ): To hear Cali’s score being played live while our movie is on the screen.

Jonathan Samukange (Summer 2019 BFA Filmmaking)

Title of Film: Honest
Composer: Michael Paraskevas
Genre: Drama
Logline: When adolescence hits, a stubborn young man must choose to listen to his father’s wisdom or risk it all to find his own path.

NYFA: Tell us about your film.

Jonathan Samukange (JS): What’s special about this movie is that it’s crewed and cast by first-time filmmakers. Most of the people in this film had never seen a film camera before in their lives. That’s special. I traveled all the way home to Zimbabwe to film it. At first, I had two months to prepare, but my visit was cut short by unexpected events. I was left with just six days to write, cast, crew, find locations and equipment.

I almost quit as the stress increased, but I couldn’t. You can’t quit just because it’s hard or no one believes in you. I looked like a wacko jacko making this movie. No one understood why I was driving up and down the place like a crazy man, but I did. That’s all that mattered. When no one understands you, don’t be discouraged by it. Embrace it. You’ll be surprised what you find on the other side.

NYFA: What has it been like to work with your composer?

JS: My composer was chosen for me, and what a fine choice Michael Paraskevas was. From the moment we met, it felt like we’ve always known each other—we just gelled. My vision for the score was simple. I asked Michael to put his heart and soul into it and to be inspired by what he sees, to follow his gut. He went for it. Freedom is at the heart of collaboration. When we give each other a chance to shine, the whole project benefits immensely.

You must come to the screening to experience this magic with your friends and family. We would be honored to have you, and it will surely be a show to remember.

Savannah Sivert (Fall 2015 MFA Filmmaking)

Title of Film: Siblings
Genre: Drama
Composer: Alex Robert Heinrich
Logline: Three siblings must find a way to accept the death of their mother.

NYFA: Tell us about your film.

Savannah Sivert (SS): This film is heavy in the way that it is a personal reflection of the death of my mother, with the twist of what I wish my siblings and I would have done at her funeral reception. Two words: stink bomb. It’s drama that serves the point of view of a child amidst grief.

NYFA: What has it been like to work with your composer?

SS: The experience completely surpassed my expectations. Alex was so easy to work with and extremely knowledgeable. More often than not, Alex was finishing my sentences as we discussed the composition. He understood the tone of the film and truly enhanced what was important.

NYFA: What have you learned in this process?

I learned how refreshing post-production can be for a film. My collaboration with my composer has deepened my understanding of how to use music as a tool in storytelling.

SS: What are you looking forward to in the live screening?

I have absolutely never experienced a film of mine being screened while a live band plays the score. That’s a first for sure! My film has evolved into something else because of my collaboration with Alex Robert Heinrich. It will be the very first screening of what the film has developed into because of this process. I can’t wait to watch.

The New York Film Academy community is invited to attend the LA Live Score Film Festival this Saturday, July 20, 2019, from 6 – 10 p.m. at Barnsdall Art Park. To purchase tickets, please click here and use the code NYFA to get a $5 discount.

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY (NYFA) MFA DOCUMENTARY STUDENT DRAMA DEL ROSARIO AWARDED BAFTA-GSA COMMISSIONING GRANT

Earlier this month, New York Film Academy (NYFA) MFA Documentary student Drama del Rosario received some major support for his important filmmaking endeavors when he received a Short Film Commissioning Grant from BAFTA-GSA.

The $8,000 grant was awarded to del Rosario by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), in partnership with Global Student Accommodation (GSA), for his documentary I’m Okay (And Neither Are You). The BAFTA-GSA Grant was launched last year to provide young filmmakers with a platform to raise awareness and encourage change in how mental wellbeing is understood amongst their peers. This year marks the first time Netflix has sponsored the BAFTA Student Film Awards.

del Rosario shares the grant with Lola Blanche Higgins. Both filmmakers will use the funds to develop their films alongside a team at BAFTA, which will provide creative and strategic advice as they work on their respective productions. Both completed films will be premiered at the BAFTA Student Film Awards in 2020.

del Rosario is currently studying for his MFA in Documentary at NYFA’s Burbank-based campus. “Drama is an amazing student and filmmaker,” says NYFA instructor Mary Beth Fielder. “All the work he’s produced while at NYFA has been exceptional, beginning with his very first film In This Family, a personal voice documentary which explores the repercussions of being ‘outed’ against his will by his seventh grade teacher.”

I’m Okay (And Neither Are You) is del Rosario’s thesis film and is currently in post-production. Winning the award against plenty of stiff competition, del Rosario’s grant application and documentary proposal was given final approval by an elite group of BAFTA members, including veteran writer and actor Stephen Fry.

“It’s been amazing to watch Drama del Rosario grow as a documentary filmmaker over the last two years,” says Sanora Bartels, NYFA-LA Chair of Documentary Filmmaking. “He brings tremendous heart to all of his projects and is fearless in his approach to sharing the truth of his personal story.”

At the awards ceremony, del Rosario gave an impassioned, emotional speech, thanking New York Film Academy, his family, and his boyfriend, and more importantly speaking publicly of his own personal mental health issues. “I have been fortunate in my life to know how to use a camera and to have people around me who don’t judge me for being in front of the camera,” del Rosario told the audience in attendance. “So when things like this happen to you in your personal life, to some degree it’s your responsibility to share with other people.”

The BAFTA-GSA grant will certainly help del Rosario finish his film and reach his goal of sharing his important story with others. “Drama literally puts himself and his personal stories in his films,” says Crickett Rumley, NYFA Director, Film Festivals. “Given the specificity of his observations, the powerful emotions he expresses, and the reactions he provokes in his audience, it’s no surprise to me that he’s been tapped for such a prestigious award.”

New York Film Academy congratulates MFA Documentary Filmmaking student Drama del Rosario on his BAFTA-GSA Commissioning Grant and looks forward to the completion of his thesis film, I’m Okay (And Neither Are You).

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Photography Department Launches FAYN #005

FAYN is a collaborative photography magazine produced by the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Photography Department. The magazine features students, faculty and alumni whose work explores contemporary concepts in art and culture.

FAYN is a platform for visual expression, and it’s a celebration of printed media. In this fast-moving digital era of photography, FAYN serves to slow down the experience of viewing photography and experiencing art. As you flip through the pages, we hope that you take the time to savor the experience of holding them in your hand.

A launch party was held for the latest issue of FAYN, #005, titled Deconstruction. In addition to an impressive array of photographic art, FAYN #005 also features an interview with and the work of renowned artist Lorna Simpson.

Student Editor Maddie Smith says in her Editor’s Letter, also featured in the issue, that “When curating the theme of this issue, Deconstruction, we wanted to feature images that were dismantling, dissecting, and reducing preconceptions both through unique visuals and thoughtful concepts. Our mission with the theme of deconstruction is to show that texts, institutions, traditions, societies, beliefs, and even images, do not necessarily need to be defined by our preconceived notions and that they can exceed the boundaries they currently occupy.”

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Magazine Cover Concept by Maddie Smith; designed by Alumni Yingda Shang

Featured Faculty
Jackie Neale
@jackiephotogy

Dia Yunzhi Wang
@dia.1111y

Ain’t I A Woman?
Thesis Work and Writing
by Edolia Stroud
@edoliastroudy

Karyna Dobrykava
@karinadobraphotoy

Fa(y)n
By Tom Myers
@thom_myers_42y

Paper Gun
MFA Thesis project by
Juan Sebastian Echeverri
@juansebastianecheverri

Featuring “Thank you for your Bullet”
By Mina Khouzamy
Featured Alumni

Lotta Lemetti
@lottalemettiy

Close Up
By BFA student
Maddie Smith
@mharpersmith

Featuring “Deconstruct Me, Reconstruct You”
By Mina Khouzamy

Google Space
Thesis work by Medford Deforest
@deforest.medfordInterview by Mina Khouzamy

Marvelous Food
By BFA Student
Hugh Li
@huughliy

FUGA
Featured Alumni
Patricia Montrase
@patriciamontrasey

Artist Spotlight
Lorna Simpson
Interview by Maddie Smith

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Australia Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media Alum Berry Salem Is 2019 Regional Finalist of the Queensland Training Awards

Earlier this month, New York Film Academy (NYFA) Australia Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media alum Abeer (Berry) Salem was awarded as 2019 Regional Finalist of the Queensland Training Awards. The ceremony was held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on July 5.

Salem originally hails from Egypt and graduated from the Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media program at New York Film Academy Australia in August 2018. She mainly works on the production side of music videos and other short-form content, and has experience in both filmmaking and acting.

“I have joined New York Film Academy to pursue my dream,” says Salem. “I’m devoted to acting and filmmaking. It is my passion. I like to transform my dream into reality. I love to create unforgettable moments that remind others of our common humanity—to inspire, encourage, challenge—and to allow witnesses in my works to the reality, the magnificence, the pleasure and the mystery of life. I intend to produce films that are a form of art—not purely to entertain but to inflame emotion and reflection, motivate action, and have a long-lasting effect on those who experience them.”

Salem has put action to this words by founding the Lotus Production House, which focuses on promoting independent performers, directors, actors, and producers.

Salem’s producing credits include two feature films, The Last Video Store and Home Plate. The mother of two has also produced her directorial debut, the 2018 short film Parental Responsibility, which earned several awards since its release. Salem plans to focus on more writing and directing in the future. She is currently working on Unseen Wall, which centers on women in prison.

“My study at New York Film Academy has further strengthened my career as a filmmaker, actress, director and producer,” says Salem. “I have been able to apply my creative approach in a way that has earned me many recognitions through my films.”

Those recognitions are numerous, and include:

Best Indie Filmmaker – Top Short Film Festival 2018
Best First-Time Director – Aphrodite Film Awards
Best First-Time Director – Festigious Film Festival 2018
Best First-Time Director – New York Film Awards 2018
Semi-Finalist – Los Angeles Film Awards 2018
Best Female Filmmaker – Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival 2019
Best Short Film – Australian Inspirational Film Festival – 2019
Official Selection – WRPN Women’s International Film Festival
Semi-Finalist – Australian Inspirational Film Festival 2019
Official Selection – First-Time Filmmaker Film Festival

Salem’s passion for film came at an early age. “Throughout the day, I would envision myself as an actor in a film and life around me as the film set,” she says. “It was hard to suppress this creative realization that everything around me, everything I learned, and everything I dreamed could be a movie.

All of her passion and hard work have paid off. Salem was one of the top three finalists for the 2019 Queensland Training Award, out of 860 applicants. The prestigious Queensland Training Awards, which celebrates its 58th year this year, recognizes individuals that strive for and have achieved success, best practice and innovation in vocational education and training across 14 categories, including for apprentices, trainees, vocational students, teachers and trainers, and more. Salem was previously a finalist for the Award in 2017.

New York Film Academy congratulates NYFA Australia alum Berry Salem on her latest in a long line of achievements and wishes her continued success as she develops her career.

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New York Film Academy Los Angeles (NYFA-LA) Kicks Off 2019 Summer Series of Student Directed Plays

The New York Film Academy-Los Angeles (NYFA-LA) Acting for Film department kicked off their Summer Series of Student Directed Plays with three amazing productions: Us & Them by David Campton, directed by Janey Nel (NYFA 1-Year Acting for Film) and mentored by instructor Mary Sala; In Love and Warcraft by Madhuri Shekar, directed by Elisa Nanty (NYFA alum) and mentored by Associate Chair of Acting, Anne Moore; and Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel, directed by Bita Arefnia (NYFA BFA Acting for Film) and mentored by instructor Cathy Giannone.

Us and Them is meaningful play that begins with two groups of wanderers looking for a place to settle. They agree to share and mark the line between their territories, then build a small wall. The wall is built higher and then still higher. Suspicion and mistrust grow to the point where the groups must inevitably explode in conflict. “I have learned so much about acting through this process,” says student director Janey Nel. “The message of the play was very important to me as I grew up in South Africa where racism is still very much an issue.”

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In Love and Warcraft follows Evie Malone—gamer girl, college senior, and confirmed virgin—who has it all figured out. She not only does she command a top-ranked guild in Warcraft with her online boyfriend but also makes a little cash on the side writing love letters for people who’ve screwed up their relationships. Love is like Warcraft, after all—it’s all about strategies, game plans, and not taking stupid risks. “Wanting to put up a cheerful play for people to just unwind and laugh still came with its challenges,” says student director and NYFA alum Elisa Nanty about her experience. “But what got the team and I through it was learning to trust in ourselves, each other, and the process.

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Dry Land is a play about unwanted pregnancy, female friendship, resiliency, and what happens in one high school locker room after everybody’s left. “I wanted to tell this story now because I believe it speaks to the time we’re living in,” says student director Bita Arefnia.

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